Electric switch for stove-lighters and the like



M. W. KIBBE. ELECTRRC SWITCH FOR STOVE LIGHTERS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, I920.

IN V EN TOR.

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Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILO W. KIBBE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD T0 ROBERT C. GREEK, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

Application filed June 2, 1920. Serial No. 385,970.

To all 10/10 122. it may 0091001 41.:

Be it known that I, 11.0 W. Krona, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches for Stove-Lighters and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an electric switch for stove lighters and the like and has for its object the provision of a plural switch having a plurality of actuating buttons arranged to control the lighters for the respective burners of a stove.

lVhile I have shown the improved switch as employed in connection with stove lighters, it will be apparent that the switch is capable of general application wherever it is desired to provide a plural switch having actuating buttons controlling the respective circuits through the switch.

The invention will be readily understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a stove provided with lighters controlled by the improved switch.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the stove.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section through the switch taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 1- is a longitudinal section through the switch on the line -tt of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a diagram of one of the electric circuits controlled by one of the contact buttons of the plural switch.

The improved switch is shown mounted upon a stove 1 provided with a plurality of burners 2. A lighter- 3 is employed in connection with each of the burners 2, said lighter being shown as comprising a metallic rod having its point arranged adjacent the burner and, preferably, supported in an insulator sleeve 4 mounted upon the frame of the stove. A terminal 5 provided with the usual clamping nut is formed at the outer end of the lighter.

The improved switch for the lighters is provided with a contact button and contacts closed by the respective buttons for each of the lighters 3. The switch is shown as comprising a suitable casing 6 secured to stove 1, in any suitable manner and having the insulator block 7 arranged within the casing 6. This insulator block extends the length of the casing and is spaced from the upper and lower walls thereof. A metallic strip 8 extends along the insulator block at one side thereof, and suitably secured thereto as by screws 9. This strip is provided with a phirality of laterally extending spring fingers 10, which are, preferably bent upwardly from strip 8 so as to be capable of being forced downwardly toward the insulator block and returning to normal position spaced from the insulator block when re leased.

As many of the spring fingers 10 are provided as it is desired to make contacts in the plural switch and a similar number of independent spring fingers 11 are inde pendently secured as by screws 12 along the opposite edge of the block 7 with said fingers in alinement with the respective fingers 10, and projecting laterally toward the same. The fingers 11 are, preferably, upwardly bent from the insulator block in manner similar to fingers 10.

A contact strip 13 is mounted upon the insulator block 7 so as to extend the length thereof beneath the fingers 10 and a similar contact strip 14L is arranged upon the insulator block beneath fingers 11.

A contact button 15 of suitable insulating material projects upwardly through a suitable opening 16 in the top of the switch casing above each of the pairs of fingers 10 and 11, said button being provided with a head 17 arranged to rest upon the pair of fingers 10 and 11 for supporting the button. Vhen one of the buttons is depressed, it is arranged to force downwardly the pair of fingers 10 and 11 supporting the button so as to cause said fingers to contact respectively with the strips 13 and 14.

A. terminal 16 for an electrical connection is, preferably, in contact with strip 8, for which purpose one of the screws 9 may be extended through the strip 8 and formed as a terminal rod. In similar manner the screws 12 retaining the contact fingers 11 in position are extended through the insulator block and are each formed as a terminal 17 for an electrical connection.

The strips 13 and 14 may also be retained upon the insulator block by screws 18 and 19 respectively, and one of each of the screws 18 and 19 are extended through the insulator block to form terminal rods 20 and 21 respeotively.

The electrical current for the device may be supplied from either a battery or from a central station source of electrical energy in which latter case, a suitable transformer indicated at 22 will be employed. The electrical energy for the apparatus is supplied to a usual induction coil represented at 23, having the primary and secondary windings 23 and 23 The current induced in the secondary windings of the induction coil flows through the respective lighters 3 for producing a spark between the lighter and the burner with which it is employed. In practice the induction coil and either the transformer or a suitable battery, depending upon whether a battery or a usual central station supply of electrical energy is employed, are mounted in a suitable casing 25, which may be secured to the stove, preferably, at the rear thereof.

The improved switch is arranged in the electric circuits, so that pressing of the respective buttons will cause a spark to be produced at the respective burners. The wiring for the system as thus described may include a wire 26 leading from either the transformer or battery to the induction coil and a Wire 27 leading from the primary winding of the induction coil to the terminal 16. A wire 28 leads from the secondary winding of the induction coil to the terminal 21 and a grounded wire 29 leads to the terminal 20, a branch Wire 30 from this latter wire leading back to the battery or transformer. Each of the terminals 17 are connected by a wire 31 with the respective terminals 5. By referring to the diagram showing the electric circuits as thus set forth the operation of the switch will be readily understood.

When any of the buttons 15 are depressed, it will be observed that a pair of fingers 10 and 11 are depressed so as to make contact with strips 13 and 14 respectively. A oircuit will thus be closed through the primary winding of the induction coil and a circuit will also be closed through the secondary winding of the induction coil and through the lighter rod controlled by the particular switch button which has been depressed. A spark will thus be formed between the lighter rod and the burner which forms part of the grounded circuit through the lighter and the secondary winding of the induction coil.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a switch construction comprising a plurality of switch buttons, pressing of any one of which is arranged to close a circuit through the primary winding of an induction coil and also to close a circuit through the sec-.

ondary winding of the coil and through the particular device controlled by the particular switch button, the device controlled by the switch button in this instance being shown as a lighter for a stove burner.

It will be apparent that various changes may be made in the construction as thus described without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch comprising a strip having a series of contact fingers, a second series of independent contact fingers, contact strips extending beneath the respective series of contact fingers, and means for cooperatively contacting fingers of the respective series with the respective contact strips.

2. A switch comprising a strip having a series of contact fingers, a second series of independent contact fingers, contact, strips extending beneath the respective series of contact fingers, and contact button engaging cooperating fingers of the respective series of fingers and adapted to move said fingers into contact with the respective contact strips.

3. A switch comprising a strip having a series of contact fingers, a second series of independent contact fingers, contact strips extending beneath the respective series of contact fingers, means for cooperatively contacting fingers of the respective series with the respective contact strips, and terminals for electrical. conductors provided upon said finger carrying strip and upon said contact strips and upon the independent fingers.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

- MILO W. KIBBE. 

